Improvement in hair-cutters  gages



A. a, WI LKINS.

Hair-Cutters Gages. v

N0.,I59,004. I P n-l9.I875.

UNITED STATES PATENT CE IcE.

ALEXANDER G. WILKI NS, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAlR-CUTT ERS GAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,004, dated January 19, 1875; application filed December 12, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER G. WIL- KINS, of Meadville, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Hair-Outters Gage, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a front view of my improved haircutters gage; Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section of the same on the line 0 c, Fig. 1, shown as applied to the head for cutting; and Fig. 3 is a rear view of the same, showing mode of adjustment.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to a convenientlyhandled instrument or device for barbers, by which the hair may be cut in a perfect and .rapid manner to any length by one with ordinary skill, forming thereby a very useful, simple, and convenient instrument for facilitating and expediting the cutting of the hair.

The invention consists of a slotted gage, composed of parallel ribs, which are bent of one piece to form a point, heel, and top part, the heel and point fitting the convexity of the head, while the curved or bent ribs guide the hair and hold it in position for the cutting action of the shears supported on the upper or top part of the gage.

The handle is attached to the rear ends of ths ribs, and provided with adjusting devices, by which the ribs may be set nearer together or farther apart, for cutting the hair to any required length.

In the drawing, A represents the body of myimproved hair-cutters gage, which is made from one piece of sheet metal, with ribs B at suitable intervals cutout therefrom, and of a shape to fit the convexity of the head, the ribs being bent to form a pointed part at the front, and a heel part at the rear, on which the gage rests in sliding along the head, and also. an upwardly-inclined and curved top part, for the support of the shears in cutting off the part of the hair extending beyond the highest or bulge part.

The lower parts of the ribs B, between heel and point, are sprung inwardly, so as not to touch the head except at the front and rear, assisting thereby to keep the hair straight midway between the roots of the hair and top of the gage while it is passing between the ribs. The slots between the ribs B are extended back of the heel part, for admitting the passage of the hair through the same, while the gage is held firmly to the head, and gradually pushed through the hair.

The top part of the ribs B is made broader than the heel part, for the better support of the shears in cutting. The bending of the ribs of one sheet of metal gives suitable spring power to the heel and top part, so that they may be separated to a greater or less distance from each other, and thereby the top part set to the exact length of the hair to be cut off. The rear edges ofthe ribs are connected, by pivoted links a, to pivots b of the handle 0, one pivot having a broader head, for locking into a notched slot, (1, of the handle, and securing rigidly the required position of the spring-ribs B.

The ribs may be readily set to the required Width or height by introducing the thumb of the right hand at one end, and the forefinger of the left hand at the other, and spreading the ribs until the pivot-pin is locked to the required notch.

Any other equivalent locking device may, however, be used in connection with the handle. The gage is then applied for use by taking hold of it with the left hand, and carrying it up from below on the back of the neck in upward direction, entering at the point for dividing the hair equally by the ribs, and holding it by the slotted parts ready for being out off above the top part of the gage. The gage is then moved along the convex part of the head toward the crown, until the hair is cut all around in uniform and regular manner, and with greater ease and convenience than with the present method, which requires skilled attendants to accomplish it in satisfactory manner. Thus the gage assists ordinarily skilled hands to perform a perfect and even cutting in very short time.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The hair-cutters gage consisting of springribs bent from one piece of sheet metal, to form point, heel, and top parts, being connected at the rear edges by the handle, and.

adjusting devices, for the'purpose of being set and operated in the manner and. for the purpose set forth.

2. The spring-ribs 0f thehair-eutters gage, bent in inwardly-curved shape between the supporting-heel and point, and with broader top part for holding the hair ready for cutting, substantially as set forth.

3. The combinatien of the springribs B, adjusting-links a, a, and handle 0, for setting the top of the ribs to greater or lesser height from the base part, and cutting the hair to any required length, substantially as described.

ALEXANDER G. WILKINS.

Witnesses:

JAMES SHARTLE, HENRY B. BAXTER. 

